CharlesSchulz,CartoonistCharlesSchulzcreatedanddrewthelong-runningcomicstripPeanuts.ByallaccountsashychildwhilegrowingupinMinnesota,Schulztookacorrespondenceartcourse,servedintheU.S.ArmyduringWWII,andthendoggedlypursuedacareerasacartoonist.HisMinneapoliscomicpanelLi'lFolkswasrenamedPeanutsandsyndicatednationwidein1950.Bythemid-1960sithadbecomeoneofthebest-knowncartoonstripsintheworld.Schulz'scharacters,includingthewishy-washyCharlieBrownandhisfantasticaldogSnoopy,alsostarredinapopularseriesofholidayTVspecialsandinthestageshowYou’reAGoodMan,CharlieBrown.Latein1999Schulzannouncedhehadcoloncancerandwouldretireafternearly50yearsofdrawingPeanuts.HediedonFebruary12,2000,onedaybeforehisfinalSundaystripappeared.Schulzdidnotpassthestriptoanotherartist,butmanynewspaperscontinuetopublishdailyrerunsofSchulz'spastPeanutsstrips.MusicformanyofthePeanutsTVspecialswascomposedbyVinceGuaraldi...OtherPeanutscharactersincludedthecrabbyLucyandherblanket-totingbrotherLinus,tomboyPeppermintPattyandherfriendMarcie,Snoopy'sbirdfriendWoodstock,andtheBeethoven-lovingSchroeder...SchulzwasmarriedtotheformerJoyceHalversonfrom1951untiltheirdivorcein1972.HemarriedJeanForsythClydein1973,andtheyremainedmarrieduntilSchulz'sdeath...Schulz'snicknamewas'Sparky.'